Norwich vicar takes on national Fresh Expressions post

Norwich vicar Rev Heather Cracknell has been appointed to a national Fresh Expression role with the Church of England based in Westminster.

Currently Vicar and Pioneer Missioner of St Francis, Heartsease, Heather is to take on the new post of Head of Development, Fresh Expressions for the Church of England and will be a member of the recently-formed Evangelism and Discipleship team based in Church House, Westminster.

Dave Male, Director of the Evangelism and Discipleship team explained that Heather will be the focal point for fresh expressions in the Church of England and will oversee the delivery of specific project to work with ten dioceses to develop many more fresh expressions.

“Heather brings extensive pioneering experience to this exciting new role through her present work as Mission Enabler for the Diocese of Norwich and at St Francis.

“We are very excited by Heather’s appointment. She has a great track record of pioneering and will bring her passion for new forms of church to this work. With significant changes in Fresh Expressions the emphasis is now much more about embedding the fresh expressions movement in the six partner denominations while remaining committed to ecumenical partnership," said Dave.

Part of the Church of England commitment is this post and a wider project both financed by a Strategic Development Fund grant of £800,000. This aims to help create and multiply new worshipping communities across ten Dioceses in a focused and structured way to make many more disciples.

By the end of Year 5, it is expected that 147 new worshipping communities will be involved with the project. The grant will provide for this new role plus three part-time staff who are yet to be appointed.

Heather said: “I am delighted to take on this exciting challenge as we look to embed the learning from the past 20 years of growing new forms of church into the life and mission of the Church of England. I am particularly excited to bring together my experience of coaching and facilitating learning communities to support the growth of resilient, creative new forms of church.”

Pictured above is Rev Heather Cracknell.

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